This week, controversy over the Venezuelan presidential election, Liu Futang put on trial for “printing his books without proper licenses,” and the United Nations condemnation of the killing of Indian correspondent Chaitali Santra.

Israel Centeno examines the changes that Hugo Chávez has made to Venezuela’s government, including constitutional revisions, and wonders whether, even with a change in leadership, Venezuela can become a democratic state.

In this week’s column, Venezuelan author Israel Centeno issues a sharp critique to the Venice Biennale – and, by extension, the European left – for awarding the Golden Lion prize to the Tower of David, a 45-story “shantytown” project in Caracas, Venezuela.

Venezuelan writer Israel Centeno draws troubling comparisons between the government-tolerated militias in Venezuela and Benito Mussolini’s shock troops. These armed militias are alleged to be responsible for the growing number of violent crimes.

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About Sampsonia Way

Sampsonia Way is an online magazine sponsored by City of Asylum/Pittsburgh that seeks to protect and advocate for writers who may be endangered, to educate the public about threats to writers and literary expression, and to create a community in which endangered writers thrive and literary culture is a valued part of life.